Effects of Role Conflict on Counselor Trainees' Self-Statements, Anxiety Level, and Performance

Counselor trainees play a dual role - subordinate in relation to their supervisors, superordinate in relation to their clients. The purpose of this study was to investigate if and how role conflict affects trainees' self-statements, anxiety level, and performance. A sample of graduate student c...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of counseling psychology 1986-01, Vol.33 (1), p.73-77
Main Authors: Friedlander, Myrna L, Keller, Kevin E, Peca-Baker, Theresa A, Olk, Mary E
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Anxiety
Counseling
Counselor Role
Counselor Trainees
Emotions
Employment training programs
Human
Psychology
Role Conflicts
Self-Efficacy
Social research
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Summary:Counselor trainees play a dual role - subordinate in relation to their supervisors, superordinate in relation to their clients. The purpose of this study was to investigate if and how role conflict affects trainees' self-statements, anxiety level, and performance. A sample of graduate student counselors responded to a counseling dilemma and then were exposed to one of four experimental manipulations: conflict (the supervisor recommended action contradictory to the trainee's intended action), no conflict (the supervisor supported the trainee's intended action), neutral (the supervisor stated that the trainee's intent and the opposing option were equally valid), or control (no supervisory input). Results suggested that role conflict may produce few adverse effects on beginning trainees' self-evaluations, affect, or behavior. Trainee performance, however, was inversely related to anxiety level, and anxiety was inversely related to the strength of trainees' self-efficacy expectations. Limitations and suggestions for further research are discussed.
ISSN:0022-0167
1939-2168
DOI:10.1037/0022-0167.33.1.73